The then Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin,
Dr. James O’Keeffe begun to look for a site in Tullow to
accommodate a Diocesan College and a Cathedral. Having failed to
do so he obtained a 999 year lease from William Fishbourne for a
four acre site in Carlow Town. Here he began to build Carlow
College, Ireland’s first post penal Catholic third level
institute.

Source: Carlow Museum

The
only person of note buried there, Michael said, is Bishop James O’Keeffe,
the man responsible for building Carlow College.

“He passed away in 1787 and requested that he be buried among the poor.”

Source: Michael Purcell 2011

Unveiling
of Plaque to Bishop O'Keeffe and Bishop Comerford at Carlow
Workman's Club. Cecil Whelan, Chairman of Carlow Town Council,
Bishop Patrick Lennon, Kevin Kennedy and the Carlow historian
Alec Burns. Can anyone name the young "choir" assembled to
sing a few Irish songs or give a date for the event?.
Source: Michael Purcell 2013

Source of images: Michael Purcell.

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with others researching their ancestors in Ireland.